Rod Guide With Discharge Deflector

ABSTRACT

A downhole sucker rod pump including a deflector configured to deflect fluid including solids from discharging against the inner wall of well tubing. The sucker pump deflector is configured to deflect discharged fluid upwardly in the well tubing, parallel to the inner wall of the well tubing to prevent abrasion. In one exemplary embodiment, the deflector may comprise a sleeve configured to be attached to the top of the sucker pump, such that fluid is discharged against an inner wall of the sleeve and directed upwardly. The sleeve may be threaded and attached to a threaded circumference of the top of the sucker pump.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally related to the field of oil wells, and more particularly to downhole sucker rod pumps.

BACKGROUND

In the oil industry, there are many types of oil pumps that may be utilized to extract petroleum oil from the earth, depending on the formation that the oil resides in. In a typical downhole well, a downhole sucker rod pump is usually utilized, and which is driven by a reciprocating pump arm situated on the site above the downhole well.

While downhole sucker rod pumps have been utilized for many years, there are still challenges and problems that operators face. One problem is the abrasion of an inner diameter of well tubing due to expelling fluids including oil and solids against the inner diameter of the well tubing. Typical sucker pumps expel the fluid at an angle against the inner diameter of the well tubing, which causes the abrasion, and corrosion. This abrasion of the inner diameter necessities repair or replacement of the well tubing, which creates significant maintenance costs in the thousands of dollars, downtime, and lost revenue to the operator. Downhole wells may easily reach 10,000 or 12,000 feet, which depth exacerbates the recovery of the pump and well tubing for servicing.

There is desired an improved system for preventing solids from abrading the inner diameter of well tubing, to extend the useful life of well tubing and reduce operating and servicing costs.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure achieves technical advantages as a downhole sucker rod pump including a deflector configured to deflect fluid including solids from discharging against the inner wall of well tubing. The sucker pump deflector is configured to deflect discharged fluid, upwardly in the well tubing, parallel to the inner wall of the well tubing to prevent abrasion. In one exemplary embodiment, the deflector may comprise a sleeve configured to be attached to the top of the sucker pump, such that fluid is discharged against an inner wall of the sleeve and directed upwardly. The sleeve may be threaded and attached to a threaded circumference of the top of the sucker pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional downhole sucker rod pump showing the pump operation during a down stoke, drawing fluid including oil below the traveling piston through a check valve into a pump barrel;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the conventional downhole sucker rod depicting the upstroke of the piston pulling fluid including oil toward the surface, and drawing more fluid into the tubing there below through a lower check valve of the pump barrel, such that expelled fluid is directed against and abrades the inner wall of the well tubing;

FIG. 3 depicts a cross sectional view of a downhole sucker rod pump barrel modified with a deflector, shown as a sleeve, to deflect discharged fluid and solids upwardly and prevent the fluid from impinging and abrading the inner wall of the well tubing proximate the pump discharge opening according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section of the of the modified pump including the sleeve in a sectioned well tubing;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of a modified discharge guide with threadings created in the outer surface of the discharge guide that is configured to receive the threaded inner wall of the sleeve;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of the sleeve with threads defined in the lower portion of the inner wall, configured to receive the threaded portion of the discharge guide shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the discharge guide including the deflector sleeve illustrating the inner wall of the sleeve positioned proximate the discharge openings of the discharge guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross sectional view of a conventional downhole sucker rod pump generally at 10. Pump 10 is seen to be securely seated in a downhole stationary well tubing 12 vertically disposed in a well hole and interfaced to the earth 14 thereabout. Pump 10 includes a pump barrel 16 having disposed therein a vertically traveling piston 18 operating as a piston/plunger, vertically manipulated in the pump barrel by a sucker rod 20 as is conventional in the art. FIG. 1 depicts the sucker rod 20 pushing the piston 18 downwardly in the pump barrel 16 such that fluid within a lower cavity 21 of the housing is drawn through a pump check valve 22 into a piston cavity 24 defined in piston 18, and the fluid is also expelled through upper openings 29 of a discharge guide 21 forming an upper portion of the pump barrel 16, against an inner wall 19 of the well tubing 12, as shown by the arrows. The inner wall 19 is also referred to as the inner diameter.

The expelled fluid may include solids and other particulates such that the expelled fluid impinges and abrades the inner wall 19 of the well tubing 12. During the down stroke of the piston 18, fluid also transfers from the piston cavity 24 into cavity 23 of the pump barrel 16 defined above the piston 18 via barrel opening 26, as shown. An upper portion of the discharge guide 21 has a shoulder 25 tapering inwardly from the inner wall 19 and includes the openings 29 defined through the shoulder 25. The inner wall of the well tubing 12 has dimension D2.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the piston 18 of FIG. 1 during an upstroke, whereby the check valve 22 closes and fluid residing above piston 18 in the cavity 23 is expelled through upper openings 29 of the discharge guide 21, against the inner wall 19 of the well tubing 12 and into chamber 28 above the pump barrel 16. Again, the expelled fluid may include solids and other particulates such that the expelled fluid impinges and abrades the inner wall 19 of the well tubing 12. The compressed expelled fluid is forced upwardly and ultimately for recovery above the oil well at the surface. During this upstroke, fluid is also drawn from within the fluid reservoir defined below the pump barrel 16 and through a check valve 30 of the pump barrel 16 and into a lower barrel housing chamber 27.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the pump barrel 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is modified by securing a deflector 40 at the upper portion of the pump barrel 16 below discharge guide 21, proximate, but spaced from, the upper openings 29. The deflector 40 is selectively attachable to, and removable from, the upper portion of the pump barrel 16 by rotating the deflector 40. In this exemplary embodiment, the deflector 40 comprises a sleeve, formed as a cylinder. Other forms of deflectors 40 are within the scope of this disclosure, such as inwardly or outwardly opening cones. The deflector may be formed of a rust and corrosion resistant material, such as an aluminum alloy.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, annular threading 42 is defined in an outer surface 44 of the pump barrel 16, about the upper portion of the pump barrel 16 and below the discharge guide 21. As shown in FIG. 6, the sleeve comprises a cylinder/tube having a threading 46 defined in an inner surface 48 of the sleeve proximate a lower end 50. Fluid, including solids and particulates, is configured to be expelled from openings 29 of discharge guide 21 and against the opposing sleeve inner surface 48 to protect the well tubing 12 from abrasion by the solids and particulates. The sleeve deflects the discharged fluid from openings 29, and directs the expelled fluid upwardly into the cavity 28 above the barrel housing 16, and about the sucker rod 20, in a direction parallel to the inner wall 19 of the well tubing 12 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the pump barrel 16 including deflector 40 in the sectioned well tubing 12. The sleeve forming the deflector 40 and the portion of the pump barrel 16 below the sleeve have the same diameter and form a flush outer surface, such that the combination can be easily and smoothly positioned in the well tubing 12. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the outer diameter (OD) of the pump barrel 16, OD₃, is the same diameter as the outer diameter of the sleeve, OD₃. The inner diameter (ID) of the sleeve, ID₄, is the same diameter of the outer diameter of the pump barrel 16 including threading 42, shown as OD₄.

In one exemplary embodiment, OD₃ is 1.625 inches, OD₄ is 1.75 inches, and the height of the deflector 40, dimension P_(L), is 2.25 inches. The threadings 42 and 46 may be 1.827-16.

In another exemplary embodiment, OD₃ is 2.00 inches, OD₄ is 2.25 inches, and the height of the deflector 40, dimension P_(L) is 2.75 inches. The threadings 42 and 46 may be 2.068-16.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the deflector 40 attached to the pump barrel 16, illustrating the openings 29 positioned close to the inner surface 48 of the deflector 40. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the expelled fluid from openings 29, including solids and particulates, is expelled against the opposing inner surface 48 of the deflector 40, and then upwardly and about the sucker rod 20.

Though the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. The intention is therefore that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications. 

1. A downhole well pump for insertion in a downhole well tubing, comprising: a well pump including a pump barrel and plunger disposed therein configured to be placed within a stationary downhole well tubing having an inner wall, the pump barrel having an outer diameter and a discharge guide configured to guide the plunger and having at least one opening, the well pump configured to draw fluid from under the well pump and expel the fluid, laterally through the at least one opening and toward the inner wall of the well tubing; a deflector coupled to an upper portion of the pump barrel and not completely encompassing the discharge guide, the deflector configured to deflect and change a direction of the fluid as it is expelled from the at least one opening of the discharge guide to prevent abrasion of the well tubing inner wall proximate the at least, one opening, wherein the deflector has an outer diameter no greater than the pump barrel outer diameter.
 2. The downhole pump as specified in claim 1 wherein the deflector comprises a sleeve.
 3. The downhole pump as specified in claim 2 wherein the deflector comprises, a cylinder.
 4. The downhole pump as specified in claim 1 wherein the deflector is threadably secured to the upper portion of the pump barrel.
 5. The downhole pump as specified in claim 4 wherein the upper portion of the pump barrel comprises a first threading, and the deflector comprises a second threading configured to threadably secure to the pump barrel first threading.
 6. The downhole pump as specified in claim 2 wherein the sleeve and the pump barrel have a common outer diameter.
 7. The downhole pump as specified in claim 1 wherein the discharge guide has a shoulder including the at least one opening.
 8. The downhole pump as specified in claim 7 wherein the pump barrel has threading defined below the shoulder.
 9. The downhole pump as specified in claim 7 wherein the discharge guide has a plurality of openings defined in the shoulder.
 10. The downhole pump as specified in claim 2 wherein the sleeve covers the at least one opening.
 11. A system, comprising: a stationary well tubing having an inner wall and configured to be disposed in the earth; a well pump including a pump barrel and a plunger disposed therein placed within the stationary well tubing, the pump barrel having a discharge guide configured to guide the plunger and having at least one opening, the well pump configured to draw fluid from under the well pump and expel the fluid laterally through the at least one opening and toward the inner wall of the well tubing; and a deflector coupled to an upper portion of the pump barrel and not completely encompassing the discharge guide, the deflector configured to deflect and change a direction of the fluid as it is expelled from the at least one opening of the discharge guide to prevent abrasion of the well tubing inner wall proximate the at least one opening, wherein the deflector has an outer diameter no greater than the pump barrel outer diameter.
 12. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the deflector comprises a sleeve.
 13. The system as specified in claim 12 wherein the deflector comprises a cylinder.
 14. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the deflector is threadably secured to the upper portion, of the pump barrel.
 15. The system as specified in claim 14 wherein the upper portion of the pump barrel comprises a first threading, and the deflector comprises a second threading configured to threadably secure to the pump barrel first threading.
 16. The system as specified in claim 12 wherein the sleeve and the pump barrel have a common outer diameter.
 17. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the discharge guide has a shoulder including the at, least one opening.
 18. The system as specified in claim 17 wherein the pump barrel has threading defined below the shoulder.
 19. The system as specified in claim 17 wherein the discharge guide has a plurality of openings defined in the shoulder.
 20. The system as specified in claim 12 wherein the sleeve covers the at least one opening. 